Couperose and vascular laser
Rosacea and couperose
Rosacea is a complex disease that we discuss in more detail in this post.
The diagnosis of this disease is made on the basis of clinical findings, and is based on the presence of telangiectasias (small veins), couperose or flushing (reddening of the facial region in response to external factors such as certain foods or external factors such as sun exposure or stress) and papulopustules (pimples in the central region and cheeks). The nasal tissue may also be affected in the form of a global thickening of the skin (a condition known as rhinophyma) or the ocular mucosa. Patients may present with one or more of these features.
Frequently asked questions
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Given the significant vascular component of this disease, the use of certain laser devices can improve and attenuate the symptoms and occasional redness, as well as the accompanying sensation of heat and stinging. In addition, these devices provide a decrease in the inflammatory response of the skin, thereby improving both redness and inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules).
In the case of rhinophyma, the use of CO2 laser can achieve significant improvements by reducing excess tissue.
Depending on the severity of the rosacea and the type of lesions presented by the patient, we can opt for different devices and even combine several of them to obtain optimal results.
The most commonly used devices are intense pulsed light (one of the most versatile devices as it improves couperose, telangiectasias and inflammatory lesions), pulsed dye laser (595nm) (improves couperose, visible vessels and even inflammatory lesions, although the recovery time is long), KTP (532nm) (which mainly improves couperose and small visible vessels) and Nd: YAG (1064nm) (which treats larger vessels).
The number of sessions needed to treat rosacea will depend on the type of lesions, the patient’s characteristics, the parameters used, etc. As a general recommendation, 2 or 3 sessions may be necessary at the beginning of the treatment, and it is usually necessary to carry out annual follow-up sessions to maintain the effects.
In many cases, rosacea must be addressed through oral treatments, topical treatments, an appropriate cosmetic routine and the use of lasers and light devices. In general, the use of lasers is compatible with oral treatments although the dermatologist will approach each case on a case-by-case basis.
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